Protective enclosure for model vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a protective enclosure comprising a base comprising a first continuous mating surface and at least one conveyance aperture, a cover comprising a second continuous mating surface, wherein the second continuous mating surface is configured to form a seal with the first continuous mating surface, and a clamp, wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to the base, wherein a mouth of the clamp is configured to be offset from the aperture when the clamp is coupled to the base, wherein the clamp comprises a first sealing layer, and wherein the clamp is configured to seal the aperture against contaminants. The protective enclosure may be configured for use in a remotely controllable model vehicle to protect a control module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/872,872 entitled PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR MODEL VEHICLE, filed Oct. 16, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective enclosures and, more particularly, to protective enclosures having provision for transverse conveyances.

2. Description of the Related Art

Remotely controllable model cars are generally designed to operate on land, and are often designed to be maintainable and modifiable by untrained users. Thus, control modules, including receiver electronics packages, electronic sensors and mechanical sensors, are typically susceptible to damage from contaminants such as water, mud, dirt and snow. A permanently sealed enclosure, which could protect a control module from contaminants while permitting a transverse conveyance, i.e. a wire or a tube passing from the inside to the outside, would complicate modification and repair by a typical user.

Assembly, modification and repair of a remotely controllable car may include the addition, removal and/or substitution of control modules, which may result in the use of a different number of wires and tubes entering a protective enclosure, as well as the use of wires and tubes of differing diameters. Consequently, there exists a need for a protective enclosure that protects a control module from contaminants while permitting transverse conveyances of differing sizes and varying numbers, and also retains its sealing properties, despite multiple episodes of opening and closing the enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides protective enclosure that protects a control module from contaminants while permitting entry of transverse conveyances while retaining its sealing properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a protective enclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded assembly view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top interior view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cutaway side view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cutaway front view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a remotely controllable car comprising another embodiment of a protective enclosure; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a cutaway view of the protective enclosure of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, for the most part, specific details, and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 100 generally indicates an embodiment of a protective enclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, protective enclosure 100 comprises a base 102, a cover 104 and a clamp 106. Clamp 106, which may provide strain relief to transverse conveyances, comprises a top portion 106 a and a bottom portion 106 b, and has a mouth 108, through which conveyances, such as ribbon cables 110 and a wire 114 may traverse the enclosure 100. It should be understood that enclosure 100 may comprise a single piece of material, in which, for example, clamp portions 106 a and 106 b are already connected to cover 104 and base 102, respectively, and cover 104 and base 102 are hinged. Alternatively, enclosure 100 may multiple pieces, in which, for example, base 102, cover 104, top clamp portion 106 a and bottom clamp portion 106 b comprise separate portions that are coupleable, i.e. configured to be assembled together. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, however, shows bottom clamp portion 106 b and base 102 as a single piece to which cover 104 and top clamp portion 106 a are coupleable. It should be further understood that transverse conveyances may include tubes, such as vacuum hose, pressurized hose, or tubes encasing movable cables.

Enclosure 100, as illustrated, is configured to house a control device for a model vehicle, for example a remotely controllable model car, in an environment protected from contaminants, such as water, mud, dirt and snow. The control device may comprise an electronic module, such as a receiver, transmitter, sensor, switch or power supply, a mechanical module, such as a gear, lever or valve assembly, and/or an electromechanical module, such as a motor, generator, or mechanically operated electrical switch. Some embodiments of enclosure 100 may house multiple modules.

FIG. 1 further illustrates conveyance alignment guides 112A-F adjacent to mouth 108 of clamp 106. In order to illustrate conveyance alignment guides 112A-F, enclosure 100 is illustrated with a splash shield 210 cut away. Splash shield 210 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The set of conveyance alignment guides 112, also shown in FIG. 2, forms a set of sub-apertures 502A-502G across mouth 108. Sub-apertures 502A-502G are indicated in FIG. 5 for improved clarity, and are illustrated as having non-identical widths. Conveyance alignment guides 112A-G align transverse conveyances, including ribbon cables 110 and wire 114, in clamp 106. In the illustrated embodiment, conveyance alignment guide 112A and 112B restrict motion of ribbon cables 110, and conveyance alignment guide 112F restricts motion of wire 114. In some embodiments, sub-apertures 502A-502G are sized such that the insulation or other external housings of transverse conveyances effectively blocks out contaminants, forming a seal. For example, if gaps between the outside of wire 114 and the interior of sub-aperture 402G are small enough, contaminants are unlikely to pass through the gaps and into the inside of enclosure 100. Thus, for some embodiments, the set of conveyance alignment guides 112 may form a sealing layer for clamp 106. Grommets and/or other flexible sealing material, such as room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) rubber, around transverse conveyances may provide further sealing.

In FIG. 1, clamp 106 is also illustrated as comprising flexible layers 116 and 118, which also form sealing layers. In some embodiments flexible layer 116 and/or flexible layer 118 comprise foam rubber, although other compressible materials may be used. When assembled with ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 in place, flexible layers 116 and 118 compress and conform to the shapes and sizes of the transverse conveyances. For example, flexible layers 116 and 118 form a seal 119 to prevent contaminants from entering enclosure 100, even when ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 pass through mouth 108 of clamp 106. It should be understood that flexible layers 116 and 118 are able to form the seal 119 even where ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 have differing diameters, or have been moved from one of sub-apertures 502A-502G to another. Thus, the illustrated embodiment of enclosure 100 comprises at least three sealing layers: the set of conveyance alignment guides 112, flexible layer 116 and flexible layer 118. However, it should be understood that some embodiments may comprise a greater or lesser quantity of sealing layers.

As illustrated, the set of conveyance alignment guides 112 is able to deflect contaminants from at least a portion of flexible layers 116 and 118, thereby forming a protective shield for flexible layers 116 and 118. In some embodiments, flexible layers 116 and 118 are constructed with materials that may degrade with age, exposure to contaminants, and repeated opening and closing of clamp 106. The protective nature of conveyance alignment guides 112A-G can extend the lifespan of flexible layers 116 and 118. Further, to ensure durability, some embodiments of enclosure 100 use replaceable flexible layers 116 and 118.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded assembly view of enclosure 100. In the illustrated embodiment, splash shield 210 is attached to top clamp portion 106A, although it should be understood that splash shield 210 may be a separate piece, coupleable to enclosure 100. Splash shield 210 obscures at least a portion of mouth 108 of clamp 106 to deflect contaminants away from mouth 108, further protecting flexible layers 116 and 118. An adhesive strip 208 is illustrated on flexible layer 116, which affixes flexible layer 116 to clamp top portion 106A. Another adhesive strip 208 on the underside of flexible layer 118 affixes flexible layer 118 to bottom clamp portion 106B. In the illustrated embodiment, when flexible layer 116 or 118 becomes worn, it may be replaced by pulling it out and affixing the replacement layer 116 or 118 in place using adhesive strip 208.

Base 102 comprises a conveyance aperture 212, which permits ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 to traverse enclosure 100, passing from the inside to the outside. Aperture 212 is configured to be offset from mouth 108 of clamp 106, illustrated as aperture 212 being vertically offset and below the expected location of mouth 108, when clamp 106 is assembled. It should be understood, however, that a different offset, such as a horizontal or diagonal offset, may be used. Ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 are illustrated as bent as they would be when enclosure 100 is assembled. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the relative positions and orientations of aperture 212, clamp 106 and splash shield 210 force ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 through a curved path, having a total bend of greater than 90 degrees, although this total bend is comprised of multiple bends, each of which may be less than 90 degrees. This curved path further protects the inside of enclosure 100 from the likelihood of contamination through aperture 212. Aperture 212 is therefore sealed against contaminants by clamp 106.

The illustrated embodiment of enclosure 100 further comprises a gasket 206, illustrated as a compressible, replaceable ring, although other embodiments may comprise different removable and/or permanent gasket types. Gasket 206 is compressed between mating surfaces 202 and 204 on base 102 and cover 104, respectively. Mating surfaces 202 and 204 are illustrated as continuous, having no gaps or notches for transverse conveyances. Mating surfaces 202 and 204 are configured to form a seal in order to keep contaminants out of enclosure 100 when cover 104 and base 102 are coupled together. In the illustrated embodiment, mating surface 202 comprises a channel 202A, which is configured to retain gasket 206 in place during assembly.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cutaway perspective view of enclosure 100, as assembled. A ribbon cable 110 is illustrated traversing enclosure 100, bending more than 90 degrees as it passes through aperture 212, mouth 108 of clamp 106, which is offset from aperture 212, and beneath splash shield 210. Mating surfaces 202 and 204 are illustrated forming a seal that includes gasket 206.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of enclosure 100, as assembled, with ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 traversing enclosure 100. FIG. 5 illustrates a cutaway top view of enclosure 100, showing the interior of base 102, with cover 104 and top clamp portion 106A removed. Sub-apertures 502A-G, formed adjacent to mouth 108 of clamp 106 by the set of conveyance alignment guides 112, are identified. Ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 are illustrated passing above flexible layer 118.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of enclosure 100, indicating plane 7 used for the cutaway side view of FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, enclosure 100 is illustrated as assembled, with ribbon cables 110 passing through aperture 212, disposed between flexible layers 116 and 118, and bending downward to pass out of mouth 108 and past splash shield 210.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of enclosure 100, indicating plane 9 used for the cutaway front view of FIG. 7. Plane 9 is between splash shield 210 and base 102. In FIG. 9, ribbon cables 110 and wire 114 are illustrated as passing between flexible layers 116 and 118. Flexible layers 116 and 118 of the seal 119 compress to conform to the shapes and sizes of ribbon cables 110 and wire 114, sealing gaps 115 in order to protect the interior of enclosure 100 from contaminants.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a remotely controllable car 1000 with another embodiment of a protective enclosure 1100. Remotely controllable car 1000 also comprises a drive train 1006, which is controlled by control devices 1002 and 1004 inside enclosure 1100. FIG. 11 illustrates a close-up cutaway view of enclosure 1100, which comprises a base 1102, a cover 1104, a gasket 1206 and a clamp 1106. It should be understood that remotely controllable car 1000 may comprise multiple protective enclosures 100 and/or 1100. It should be further understood that control devices 1002 and 1004 may be electronic, mechanical and/or electromechanical modules, and that a greater or lesser quantity may be used.

Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A protective enclosure comprising: a first enclosure portion comprising a first continuous mating surface and at least one conveyance aperture configured for passage between the inside of the enclosure and the outside of the enclosure of at least one conveyance, wherein the at least one conveyance comprises one or more wires separated from immediate surroundings and preventing passage of contaminants past or between the one or more wires by electrical insulation material encasing the one or more wires; wherein the at least one conveyance further comprises a single insulated wire or a ribbon cable; a second enclosure portion comprising a second continuous mating surface, wherein the second continuous mating surface is configured to form a seal with the first continuous mating surface; a clamp comprising a mouth having an upper mouth portion comprising a upper clamping surface and a lower mouth portion comprising a lower clamping surface, wherein the upper and lower clamping surfaces cooperate to clamp the at least one conveyance between the surfaces, and wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to the first enclosure portion; wherein the mouth of the clamp is configured to be offset from the conveyance aperture when the at least a portion of the clamp is coupled to the first enclosure portion, the clamp offset comprising at least a portion of the upper or the lower clamping surface being offset from the conveyance aperture; and wherein the clamp further comprises a first seal having at least a portion compressed by at least a portion of the upper or lower clamping surfaces, and wherein the first seal is configured with one or more flexible surfaces to conform around at least a portion of opposite sides of the at least one conveyance traversing the mouth to seal against contaminants.
 2. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the offset of the mouth of the clamp from the aperture further comprises at least a portion of the upper or lower clamping surface being disposed in any direction outside the aperture.
 3. The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a flexible seal member disposed between at least a portion of the first and second continuous mating surfaces.
 4. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the conveyance aperture further comprises an opening in the first enclosure portion.
 5. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the conveyance aperture of the first enclosure portion comprises an aperture perimeter; and wherein, when the at least a portion of the clamp is coupled to the first enclosure portion, at least a portion of the upper and the lower clamping surfaces of the mouth of the clamp are not within the conveyance aperture perimeter.
 6. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the conveyance aperture of the first enclosure portion comprises an aperture perimeter; and wherein, when the at least a portion of the clamp is coupled to the first enclosure portion, the upper and the lower clamping surfaces of the mouth of the clamp are not within the conveyance aperture perimeter.
 7. A protective enclosure for a model vehicle, comprising: a first enclosure portion comprising a first continuous mating surface and at least one conveyance aperture, the conveyance aperture configured for passage of one or more conveyances through the conveyance aperture and wherein at least a portion of the conveyance aperture comprises a continuous aperture perimeter defined by one or more walls of the first enclosure portion; one or more conveyances, the one or more conveyances having a length extending from a conveyance origin within the enclosure to a conveyance terminus outside the enclosure; a second enclosure portion comprising a second continuous mating surface, wherein the second continuous mating surface is configured to cooperate with the first enclosure portion to form a continuous seal with the first continuous mating surface; a clamp comprising a mouth having an upper mouth portion comprising a upper clamping surface and a lower mouth portion comprising a lower clamping surface, wherein the upper and lower clamping surfaces cooperate to clamp at least a portion of the one or more conveyances between the clamping surfaces; wherein at least a portion of the upper or lower clamping surface of the clamp mouth is offset from the conveyance aperture, the offset comprising at least a portion of the upper or lower clamping portions being disposed outside of the area within the aperture perimeter and along at least a portion of the length of the one or more conveyance closer to the conveyance terminus than the aperture perimeter, and wherein at least a portion of the upper or lower clamp surface offset from the aperture compresses at least a portion of the one or more conveyances; a splash shield comprising a wall spaced from and at least partially obscuring an exit portion of the clamp mouth from which a portion of the one or more conveyances exits toward the conveyance terminus, the splash shield configured to deflect contaminants away from the clamp mouth exit portion; and wherein the clamp mouth and the splash shield cooperate to require bending of each of the one or more conveyances exiting the exit portion of the clamp mouth.
 8. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, wherein the conveyance aperture, clamp mouth and splash shield cooperate to require the conveyance path to comprise one or more bends in any direction, wherein the cumulative total or the one or more bends is at least 90 degrees.
 9. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, wherein the conveyance aperture, clamp mouth and splash shield cooperate to require each of the one or more conveyances to comprise one or more bends in any direction, wherein the cumulative total or the one or more bends is at least 90 degrees.
 10. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more conveyances comprises one or more wires separated from immediate surroundings and preventing passage of contaminants past or between the one or more wires by electrical insulation material encasing the one or more wires.
 11. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more conveyances further comprises a single insulated wire.
 12. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more conveyances further comprises a ribbon cable.
 13. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 10, further comprising a clamp seal having at least a portion compressed by the upper and lower clamping surfaces, and wherein the clamp seal conforms around at least a portion of the one or more conveyances.
 14. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 13, wherein the clamp seal conforms around at least a portion of opposite sides of the one or more conveyances.
 15. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the upper and lower clamp surfaces compressing the at least a portion of opposite sides of the one or more conveyances are substantially parallel.
 16. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, further comprising at least one flexible seal cooperating with the first and second enclosure portions to form a continuous seal about the first and second enclosure portions.
 17. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 16, wherein the at least one flexible seal is at least partially disposed between the first mating surface of the first enclosure portion and the second mating surface of the second enclosure portion.
 18. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to one or more other portions of the enclosure.
 19. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to the first enclosure portion.
 20. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 7, wherein the clamp is secured for movement with the enclosure and clamps the at least a portion of the one or more conveyances at a position fixed relative to the conveyance aperture.
 21. A protective enclosure for a model vehicle, comprising: a first enclosure portion comprising at least one conveyance passage, the conveyance passage configured for passage of one or more conveyances through the conveyance passage from within the first enclosure portion and wherein at least a portion of the conveyance passage comprises an passage boundary defined by one or more walls of the first enclosure portion; one or more conveyances, the one or more conveyances having a length extending from a conveyance origin within the enclosure to a conveyance terminus outside the enclosure; a second enclosure portion coupleable to the first enclosure portion, the second enclosure portion comprising a continuous sealing surface; at least one flexible enclosure seal cooperating with the continuous mating surface of the second enclosure portion to form a continuous seal about the second enclosure portion and at least a portion of the first enclosure portion, wherein the at least one flexible enclosure seal is disposed along the continuous mating surface of the second enclosure portion; a clamp comprising a clamp mouth having a first mouth portion extending outwardly from the first enclosure portion, the first mouth portion comprising a first clamping surface, and a second mouth portion extending outwardly from the second enclosure portion, the second mouth portion comprising a second clamping surface, wherein the first and second clamping surfaces cooperate to clamp at least a portion of the one or more conveyances between the clamping surfaces; wherein at least a portion of the first or second clamping surface of the clamp mouth is disposed outside of the area within the passage boundary and along at least a portion of the length of the one or more conveyance closer to the conveyance terminus than the passage boundary, and wherein at least a portion of the first or second clamp surface disposed outside of the area within the passage boundary compresses at least a portion of the one or more conveyances; wherein at least one of the one or more conveyances comprise one or more wires separated from immediate surroundings and preventing passage of contaminants past or between the one or more wires by electrical insulation material encasing the one or more wires; and a clamp seal having at least a portion compressed between the first and second clamping surfaces, and wherein the clamp seal conforms around at least a portion of opposite sides of the one or more conveyances.
 22. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 21, wherein the at least one flexible enclosure seal and the continuous mating surface of the second enclosure portion are disposed in alignment with a common plane.
 23. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 21, wherein the clamp seal contacts the one or more conveyances to form a water-tight seal.
 24. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 21, wherein the first and second clamp surfaces compress the at least one conveyance when the second enclosure portion is coupled to the first enclosure portion at the enclosure seal.
 25. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 21, further comprising a splash shield comprising a wall spaced from and at least partially obscuring an exit portion of the clamp mouth from which a portion of the one or more conveyances exits toward the conveyance terminus, the splash shield configured to deflect contaminants away from the clamp mouth exit portion, and wherein the clamp mouth and the splash shield cooperate to require bending of each of the one or more conveyances exiting the exit portion of the clamp mouth.
 26. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle of claim 21, wherein the first and second clamping surfaces are substantially parallel.
 27. A protective enclosure for a model vehicle component, comprising: a first enclosure portion; a second enclosure portion coupleable to the first enclosure portion; one or more enclosure seal members; wherein the first and second enclosure portions, when coupled together, cooperate with one or more of the one or more enclosure seal members to form a continuous seal about a perimeter of the first and second enclosure portions; an aperture configured for passage of one or more conveyances through one or more walls of the first enclosure portion when the second enclosure portion is coupled to the first enclosure portion; and a clamp at least partially affixed to the first enclosure portion and disposed a predetermined distance from the aperture, the clamp having one or more seal members configured to conform around at least a portion of opposite sides of the one or more conveyances, wherein the one or more conveyances comprise one or more wires separated from immediate surroundings and preventing passage of contaminants past or between the one or more wires by electrical insulation material encasing the one or more wires.
 28. The protective enclosure for a model vehicle component of claim 27, further comprising a splash shield configured to deflect contaminants away from the one or more conveyances, wherein the clamp mouth and the splash shield cooperate to require bending of each of the one or more conveyances after exiting the aperture. 